The theme of this year’s Comparative and International Education Society (CIES) Conference is “Envisioning Education in a Digital Society.”
Experts from the Results for Development-led EdTech Hub will participate in the following sessions:
1. The case for locally driven implementation research and the shift it demands from funders
A panel session, chaired by the BE2 Secretariat, exploring the role of locally led implementation research in scaling programs and driving sector-wide learning. Speakers, including Verna Lalbeharie, R4D Managing Director and EdTech Hub Executive Director, will showcase digital technology in implementation research and discuss how funders can adopt flexible, long-term models to support local capacity and innovation better.
- Date: Saturday, March 22
- Time: 2:45 – 4:00 p.m.
- Location: Palmer House – Third floor, Salon 6
2. Is the tone changing on uses of technology in education? The 2023 GEM report one year on
In this session, Verna Lalbeharie, Executive Director of EdTech Hub, will share key insights on embedding evidence-based decision-making in government EdTech policies.
The presentation will highlight three major research studies on teacher training in Tanzania, digital personalised learning in Kenya, and data-driven teacher allocation in Sierra Leone. Closing with a practical framework for leaders, this session will help researchers, policymakers, and implementers apply the latest GEM report recommendations to their work.
- Date: Sunday, March 23
- Time: 2:45 – 4:00 p.m.
- Location: Palmer House – Third floor, Salon 9
3. The impact of tailored, rapid-response technical support on EdTech policy – evidence from the EdTech Hub’s Helpdesk
Since 2019, the Helpdesk has responded to 200+ requests across 60+ countries, shaping national EdTech strategies and policies. This panel will unpack key lessons from the Helpdesk’s work and explore its impact on national and regional EdTech plans across diverse contexts.
R4D Global Education Associate Director Jessica Lowden dives into the technical assistance component of the Helpdesk and how it has been valuable in addressing education technology policy questions.
Associate Director Arjun Upadhyay presents outcomes from our work in Supporting UNICEF Regional Digitalization plans for ECA and LACRO.
Senior Program Officer Sharanya Ramesh Vasudevan presents on EdTech Hub’s work in Sierra Leone supporting the Ministry of Basic and Senior Secondary Education and the Teaching Service Commission in developing a National Digital Learning Strategy. The presentation will focus on Sierra Leone’s EdTech landscape, the process and framework used to engage various stakeholders in Sierra Leone and lessons learned.
- Date: Monday, March 24
- Time: 9:45 – 11:00 a.m.
- Location: Palmer House – Third floor, Salon 9
4. The impact of tailored, rapid-response technical support on EdTech policy – evidence from the EdTech Hub’s Helpdesk
Envisioning Education in a Digital Society, the CIES 2025 conference theme, is inspired by rapid transformations taking place due to technological advancements (e.g., generative artificial intelligence, the Internet of Things, and connectivity technologies) that are reshaping our daily lives, the future of work and our society — all of which have profound impacts on education.
These advancements bring complex challenges, including adopting technology in educational settings, ethical concerns, and the new digital divide that technologies can create. Moreover, the growth of connectivity and the widespread use of devices and digital applications are pushing forward digital transformations in education at a rapid pace.
In this session, the panelists — including Jessica Lowden — will explore three topics to provoke conversations on the latest trends, practices and challenges related to technology in comparative international education. Three topics ground this conversation: First, what is technology’s role in shifting and changing local culture? Second, how does science inform teaching and learning, and how can technology equalize the playing field? Third, how should technology guide educational changes?
- Date: Monday, March 24
- Time: 11:15 a.m. – 12:30 p.m.
- Location: Palmer House – Fourth floor, Grand/State Ballroom
5. Exploring digital technologies to enhance the inclusion of out-of-school children
Program Officer Rebekka Flam will present on leveraging existing technology in low-resource settings to support learning, as part of an EdTech Hub panel on enhancing the inclusion of out-of-school children in Southeast Asia.
- Date: Tuesday, March 25
- Time: 2:45 – 4:00 p.m.
- Location: Palmer House – Clark 7
